
Downtown SP - one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world!
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British culture magazine Time Out , a reference in travel guides, published this Tuesday (10/06/2020) its list of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. And to our delight, among the 40 scored is an old acquaintance of São Paulo residents (and very dear to us): the city center.

The survey took into account 38,000 opinions from residents of the 40 chosen neighborhoods, editors and tourism experts. Every year they choose places that combine people, affordable food, art, culture and innovation – but this year, due to the pandemic, the criteria also included places where there is a community that helps each other in difficult times, which represents the souls of these cities.
Those who visit the city already know all this very well – and those who have been there as tourists must have also noticed: the city center certainly deserves its place among the coolest neighborhoods in the world. Time Out draws attention to how the city center has been changing in the last decade, especially the buildings from the 1960s, which have been transformed into cultural spaces, such as Casa Elefante and SESC 24 de Maio. They also mention Estadão and Casa do Porco as local highlights – and how the neighborhood's sidewalks are being transformed into outdoor dining spaces.
In a way, they summed up everything that the city center has to offer : the cultural life, the variety to suit all tastes, the best restaurants (from set meals to Michelin stars) and the sidewalk tables for those who enjoy the street. Not to mention the street art and some architectural gems that we have already mentioned here . The city center has a life of its own and that is what makes it a unique place – at least here in the southern tropics. It is great to see it gaining the recognition it deserves.
For those who are curious, the coolest neighborhood in the world (according to Time Out) is Esquerra de l'Eixample, in Barcelona, Spain. Residential and well-kept, its famous spots include the Joan Miró park, the Ninot market and the Espai Germanetes urban garden – but what guaranteed the first place was a support network for the most needy that brought everyone together (from residents to famous restaurants) during this time of pandemic. Esquerra has been setting examples – of urban planning and respect for others – for the whole world. You can see the rest of the list here .